‘No!’ Anna batted her away playfully. ‘It’s nothing like that. Tom’s a friend.’

‘How dull.’ Liesel looked bored. ‘Mind you, I couldn’t imagine Tom Franklin spouting love poetry. As I recall, he could barely string three words together!’

You’d be surprised, Anna thought. Tom’s letters showed a sensitive, caring side she could never have imagined before. There were no sweet nothings, as Liesel put it, and certainly nothing that could cause Edward any jealousy. They were just good friends, that was all.

Christmas Eve had always been special for the Beck family, the time when they celebrated their father’s German traditions.

Even when he was locked up in the internment camp, Dorothy had still cooked fish with potato fritters and sauerkraut on Christmas Eve, and they had opened their presents and sung songs and remembered Papa.

This year, Anna had insisted on carrying on the tradition. But even she had to admit there was a hollow ring to their laughter as they sat in front of the fire, opening their gifts by the light of the Christmas candles.

‘It isn’t the same, is it?’ Liesel said mournfully.

‘No,’ Anna sighed. ‘No, it isn’t.’

‘Do you remember how lovely it used to be, the four of us together?’ Liesel sniffed back her tears. ‘I wonder what Mother and Papa are doing now?’

‘I expect they’re lighting their candles and cooking fish and thinking about us, just as we are them,’ Anna said.

‘I daresay Papa’s singing, as usual.’ Liesel smiled through her tears. ‘“Ir Kinderlein, kommet, O kommet doch all,”’ she sang in a high, quavering voice.

‘“Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall,”’ Anna joined in.

Liesel dissolved into tears. ‘Oh, Anna, I miss them so much,’ she sobbed.

‘I know, love.’ Anna put her arms around her sister, holding her close. ‘But we’ll be together again one day, I promise. And in the meantime, there’s nothing to stop us having a nice Christmas together, just the two of us. Especially as your friend the farmer’s wife has been so generous …’

Liesel pulled away. ‘But – that food isn’t for us,’ she blurted out. ‘It’s for Davy’s family. His mother has invited me to spend Christmas Day with them.’ Her face reddened. ‘I’m sorry, I assumed you’d be working tomorrow …’

‘I took the day off so I could spend it with you.’

‘Oh.’ Liesel fell silent, biting her lip. ‘I don’t know what to do.’

‘You’ll have to tell Davy’s mother you’ve decided to spend Christmas with me instead.’

‘But I can’t do that!’ Liesel looked horrified. ‘They’re expecting me. And I never see Davy …’

‘You see more of him than you do me,’ Anna pointed out.

Liesel went quiet again and Anna could almost see her sister’s mind whirring, trying to work out how to get what she wanted.

‘You know, I thought you might be happy for me,’ she said in a small, choked voice. ‘Davy’s parents have been very kind to me since Mother and Papa left. They’ve welcomed me into their family, made me feel as if I really have somewhere to belong …’